Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-06-04

A Tragic sosne Described 81 One OF the
Witnesses.
A WOMAN WHO WAS PRESENT WHEN PAYNE ArrHMPr-
I'D 10 AssAssrNAT. THE sEcRRrARY-How THE AS
sAssN aAlSxD ADHESION TO THE ROUSE, &C.
A plump, pleasant-faced woman, with Q rich
ness OF dialect that proclaimed her birth upon the
green shores OF Ireland, occupies the position of
messenger In the ONCE OF loans and currency OF
the Treasury Department. Messengers positions
are generally held by men, most frequently by
wounded soldiers; but this Is an exceptional case
aer name Is Margaret Coleman. She was the
housekeeper OF Secretary Seward and was pain
Iuiy injured while trying to impede the flight Of
Payne, the would-be assassin, after his attempt
upon Stewards life.
eyes. and that was terrible night" she said,
re rec ner experience to STAR reporter 1T
and aashed at him! And he was such q good
man, TOO! lived with Mr.. Seward a long time,
an ana nearn nov he talked and knew him ne had
the southern people. While he wanted to free the
aa em ne meyer thought as much Of them as
used to hear him talk, too He was another good
man. Mr. Seward never went quite so far. Many
ana many 8 the time heard him say to himself:
yes the negroes should be freed! But they should
not be put on an equality with the whites
he would add. 1 have often heard him say
and liberal with every one. He always gave din
ner parties once week, at least, and held recep-
lions on saturdays. Democrats and republicans
to go to extremes and to cherish bitterness. At
the saturday receptions hundreds Of people would
oe present. ana he always had refreshments
served. He used to entertain the common soldiers
and sailors.
THE ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION.
"That night" she continued, returning to the
night OF Stewards attempted assassination "he
was very sick. You know about two weeks before
his horses had run away and throwing him from
up and supported in wire frame, and
1t was terribly swollen There was great march,
Ing and celebration that night on account OF the
Fannie was In the room with her father, and there
", was man nurse from one OF the hospitals, there
easier, and had Just gone into my room to go to
bed, when heard Miss Fannie scream. 1t was
tnen about 10 O'Clock. I ran into the
sell up by the door sill With his face and head all
covered with blood. SO weak that he could not
stand alone. And in Mr. Stewards room was Miss
bloody knife in his hand. It was an awful sight
that no theater play ever came near to. Payne
was powerful man. He looked as big as two
suit with high riding boots up above his knees and
soft white hat with broad brim. He
was powerful and as active as cat:
stood in his way as he went out, and he simply
brushed me aside and rushed out OF the house. He
Old not hit me, and donI think he intended to
hurt me. put fell against door and diSlocated
my shoulder. He did not offer to touch Mrs. Sew
ard or Miss Fannie, and don't think he would
have hurt me, only In his hurry as he rushed out.
He did not want to harm the women folks, but he
tried to kill the men.
HOW PAYNE ENTERED TIE HOUSE.
"When he first came to the door," she continued,
"and asked to see Secretary Seward, he said he
had message from the doctor. The butler, who
went to the door, you know, was nothing more
Than a
Payne just walked right by him and up the stairs.
His heavy boots made great noise, and Mr.. Fred.
Seward Che was his fathers secretary, you know,
and was in an adjoining room), came out in the
passage TO see What was the matter. When he
would not let Payne into the room, Payne reached
volver, and snapped It right at his breast
three times, but 1t did not go of. Then Payne
took the butt of his pistol and beat him over the
blood He did not throw him down stairs, as
many folks think; he just left him where he was,
too weak TO do anything. Then he rushed at the
bed
WITH A LONG KNIFE.
Mr.. Seward had the presence OF mind to pull the
covers over his head and roll over toward the
wall, and the assassin cut ana slashed at him
awfully. he cut him in several places, and
cut the bed clothes all to pieces, but
On account Of the wires that had been put about
the jaw. seward, all covered with blood, succeeded
in throwing himself between the bed and the wall,
anu at UrSG thought fayne nau tnTOWn nlu OUT
or the window. But after the assassin was gone
got the Secretary up on the bed, and we tried to
do something for him. The man nurse was all cut
and bleeding. Mr.. Fred. was nearly dead, and
there was NOBODY to do anything. Oh! it was an
awful time. 1t was all so terrible; IL was like
awful dream. 1t all did not take more than five
minutes and the assassin had gone
OFF on HIS HORSE.
The soldiers and people got around the house, but
there was no doctor. The doctors were all at
President Lincolns bedside, but we did not know
that. We did not know that Mr.. Lincoln had been
shot. For three quarters OF an hour think we
waited fora doctor, and all the time had to battle
the Secretary'S wounds with iced rags to keep him
from bleeding to death.
But he lived TO see Payne hanged. ! lived with
him after that and then kept house for Mr.. Sum-
ner. Then they put me in the Department here,
where guess can stay to earn support as
long as live"